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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Management of ingested foreign bodies. How justifiable is a waiting policy?
Theodoros E Pavlidis1, Georgios N Marakis, Apostolos Triantafyllou
1Second Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Medical School, Hippocration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 546 42 Thessaloniki, Greece. pavlidth@med.auth.gr
Abstract:
Foreign body ingestion is a commonly seen accident in emergencies, usually in children (80%), elderly, mentally impaired, or alcoholic individuals, whereas it may occur intentionally in prisoners or psychiatric patients. According to the literature, 90% of ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract without complications, 10% to 20% necessitate endoscopic removal, whereas only 1% of them will finally need surgical intervention. In clinical practice, we often face the dilemma of choosing the appropriate treatment modality. We present 13 cases treated in our department, emphasizing in a "waiting and close observation" policy. Among these cases, only 1 patient needed to be operated because of obstruction of ileocecal valve by a large coin. Indications for treatment where applicable are also being discussed.
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